The Centre is based in an historic library building at 1047 Colombo Street and currently offers a small hall, another room with lounge seating, kitchen, offices and an annex used by a community group as a neighbourhood computer facility. Owned by the Christchurch City Council, it is run by a management committee of centre users.
The Christchurch City Council recently purchased an additional property behind the community centre where it will create a new car park; so that the new community centre building can be constructed on the current car park site. The new building will link to the existing building with a covered walkway.
“We’re really keen to work closely with local community groups and residents to make sure we create a valuable addition to the current centre,” says Christchurch City Council Community Support Manager Carolyn Gallagher. “We’re talking to community groups to make sure we can include as many things as possible from their wish lists in what we’re planning to be an environmentally sustainable building. We’ve already had requests for a larger hall area, an arts and crafts room, more storage for centre users, a larger kitchen, more meeting rooms, better accessibility and a green outdoor area – to name but a few,” says Ms Gallagher. “We’ll also be working to preserve and protect the best features of the existing building as we make minor modifications to its accessibility.”
Community input to the project design will occur over the next month or two, before detailed design, resource consent and tender processes occur. It is hoped to have construction underway in about a year’s time, and the new building in use by April 2012.
